Celebrating 'Black Gold'

muscapsule032: Celebrating 'Black Gold'November 16 was a double celebration day for the Kern County Museum in Bakersfield. It marked the one year anniversary of “Black Gold: The Oil Experience,” the museum’s popular, entertaining and educational interactive oil exhibit. Museum officials also took the opportunity to dedicate three time capsules that will not be opened until the year 2103.

Approximately 200 visitors came through the gates to tour Black Gold, feast on a barbecue hosted by Halliburton Energy Services and watch ceremonies surrounding the official sealing of the time capsules in the Donor Plaza next to the oil exhibit.

Visitors had their choice of jumbo hot dogs or hamburgers and all the fixings, including chili, sausage, macaroni and potato salads. Then, it was the museum and Kern County Museum Foundation’s turn to receive treats in the form of several large donations.

Berry Petroleum President Jerry Hoffman and Vice President for Engineering Brian Rehkopf presented foundation President Beth Brookhart with a check for $25,000. Occidental of Elk Hills Inc Administrative Specialist Gloria Williams also had a donation of $25,000 for the foundation. The museum’s education program benefitted with a contribution of $5,000 from Western States Petroleum Association Senior Coordinator Production Regions, San Joaquin Valley Office Suzanne Noble.

During the time capsule ceremony, many civic and state leaders addressed visitors including Kern County Superintendent of Schools Larry E. Reider, Cal Rossi representing State Sen. Charles Poochigian, Zack Scrivner representing Assemblyman Kevin McCarthy, Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, Kern County Supervisor Barbara Patrick, Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall, Museum Authority Board Member Dan Tuttle and museum Curator of Collections Jeff Nickell.

“The time capsules we are dedicating today show the ‘can do’ attitude that turned our county from desert and swampland into a productive oil-rich land populated by wonderful people who call Kern County home,” Reider told the audience.

One of the items residents in the year 2103 will find when they open the air and water proof time capsules will be a photo of derrick #17 on the McNee Oil Lease, the last wooden oil derrick that still stands in the Taft fields. Other unusual items include a Getty Oil Company flag and Tosco Oil Refinery paper weight, reminders of oil giants that once flourished in Kern County but do no longer.

Those looking for history in the year 2103, can open a copy of the “Historic Kern County” book donated by the museum and essays on life in the year 2003 that were written by students at Valley Oaks Charter School. Other memorabilia contained in the time capsules include business cards, company and family pictures and histories and even a Union 76 antenna ball.

Closing out the ceremony at 3 p.m., Nickell and museum Restoration and Maintenance Supervisor Scott Fieber, aided by a large crane, guided a seven-foot tall, 2,000 pound, oilfield Christmas tree into place over the eight- foot long, 13 3/8 inch chamber housing the three 10 inch wide, foot long time capsules. The Christmas tree is a piece of oilfield equipment consisting of many valves, flanges and piping and was donated by Elco Manufacturing Company. The capsules were courtesy Kelley Pipe Company, and the casing came from J.D. Rush Company.

Once the Christmas tree bolts were locked in place, museum officials unveiled a plaque placed in the Donor Plaza that will guide those in charge of the museum in 2103 to the location of the time capsules.


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